tradeswomann.

a1652 R. Brome Mad Couple Well Match'd ii. sig. C5^v, in Five New Playes (1653) As I am a Woman; are you silent? if you doubt the length of my mans Eares at that distance, you may whisper what so? But that is a right shop-whisper indeed with Trades-women that are handsome.

1706 tr. J. B. Morvan de Bellegarde Refl. upon Ridicule 212 New-vamp'd Trades-women, whose Dress and Train, and Furniture and Table, create Envy.

1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1778 II. 266 [Johnson:] Tradeswomen (I mean the wives of tradesmen) in the city.

1854 Chambers's Jrnl. 3 June 344/1 Mrs Margery.., though now a respectable tradeswoman.., would not be prevailed upon to go up stairs.

1656 W. Guild Noveltie of Poperie Discovered vi. 32 Poore Trades-women, menders of Clothes, serving women, and wayting maydes.

1667 R. Flecknoe Damoiselles a la Mode i. v. 17 If any Trades-woman come, under pretence of selling their Ware, be sure you keep them out.

1763 Beauties of all Mag. Sel. Oct. 441/2 Agreed for a month's run with my tea and sugar tradeswoman.

1799 tr. I. de Charrière Lett. Lausanne II. xxv. 213 The purpose of selecting every year, two young women from the Magdalen hospital, and fixing them in partnership with well-established tradeswomen.

1832 G. Clayton Narr. Journey & Visit to Metropolis of France 74 The tradesmen, or rather tradeswomen, sometimes ask half, invariably more than a third of the fair or demandable value of their articles.

1889 Sat. Rev. 23 Feb. 218/1 The gentle lady must be put off, and the shrewd and thrifty tradeswoman must be put on.

1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 3 Oct. 20 If you are a tradeswoman, send us an account of your training and experiences.

1999 Westside News (Brisbane) 28 Apr. 14/3 Four tradeswomen have visited..to help break down the cultural and psychological barriers that deter many young women from entering a trade.